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This page lists each current Delaware record fish as well as the anglers who hooked, fought and landed them. Seventeen freshwater species and thirty saltwater species of trophy fish have been recognized as state records in Delaware. These fish are the largest specimens documented to have been caught by rod and reel.
If you think you have caught a potential new state record fish, please follow all Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament Rules. Pay particular attention to rule number 8.
Fish Species | Record Holder | Location | Date | Weight | Length (In) | Girth (In) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Shad | Bayard Conaway Wilmington, DE |
Brandywine Creek | 5/2/1972 | 6 lb. 12 oz. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Bluegill | Arnold Harmon | Diamond Pond | 6/10/1998 | 2 lb. 10 oz. | 13″ | 14.25″ |
Bluegill | Clifford Snyder | Diamond Pond | 4/29/2001 | 3 lb. 10 oz. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Carp | Ronald Burnett New Castle, DE |
Delaware River | 6/6/1976 | 45 lb. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Catfish (any species) | Colt Williamson Harrington, DE |
Nanticoke River | 8/21/2019 | 47 lb. 12 oz. | 43″ | 31″ |
Chain Pickerel | Earl Messick Blades, DE |
Horsey Pond | 4/22/1972 | 7 lb. 3 oz. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Crappie | Marvin Billips St. Georges, DE |
Noxtontown Pond | 5/30/1976 | 4 lb. 9 oz. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Largemouth Bass | Andre Klein New Castle, DE |
Wagamons Pond | 2/20/2016 | 11 lb. 1.6 oz | 27″ | 20.5″ |
Muskellunge (Muskie) | Thomas Sutton Dover, DE |
Brandywine River | 4/17/2013 | 20 lb. 8 oz. | 42.25″ | 19.5″ |
Redear Sunfish | Marty Messick Milford, DE |
Diamond Pond | 6/14/1998 | 3 lb. 1 oz. | 15″ | 16″ |
Smallmouth Bass | Jerry Proffitt Newark, DE |
Brandywine River | 5/29/1989 | 4 lb. 15 oz. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Snakehead | Bobby Smith Greenwood, DE |
Nanticoke River | 4/27/2017 | 12 lb. 12 oz. | 32″ | 16″ |
Striped Bass Hybrid | Earl Blevins Newark, DE |
Lums Pond | 3/12/1990 | 13 lb. 13 oz. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Trout | Edwin Wallace Wilmington, DE |
White Clay Creek | 2/16/1997 | 11 lb. 10 oz. | 28″ | 18.5″ |
Walleye | Nesbit Copenhaver Wilmington, DE |
Brandywine River | 7/23/1995 | 6 lb. 14 oz. | 27.5″ | 15″ |
White Perch | Wayne Hastings Seaford, DE |
Indian River | 2/28/1997 | 2 lb. 9 oz. | 15″ | 13.75″ |
Yellow Perch | Marvin Kessinger Wilmington, DE |
Red Clay Creek | 5/2/1976 | 2 lb. 11 oz. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Fish Species | Record Holder | Location | Date | Weight | Length (In) | Girth (In) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlantic Cod | John Osborne Lewes, DE |
Five Fathoms Bank | 1/25/1975 | 44 lb. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Atlantic Croaker | Catherine Simpson Rehoboth, DE |
Indian River | 9/12/1980 | 5 lb. 3 oz. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Atlantic Mackerel | Ricky Yakimowicz Lewes, DE |
Delaware Bay | 4/2/1985 | 3 lb. 5 oz. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Black Drum | Kenneth H. Smith Frederica, DE |
Delaware Bay | 5/20/1978 | 115 lb. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Black Sea Bass | Steve Samluk Newark, DE |
Fenwick Shoal | 9/9/1988 | 7 lb. 6 oz. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Bluefish | Luis Mispireta Stevensville, MD |
Del-Jersey Artifical Reef | 11/16/2015 | 24 lb. 13 oz. | 43″ | 23.5″ |
Blueline Tilefish | Andrew Orr Stevensville, PA |
Baltimore Canyon | 8/18/2015 | 22 lb. 3 oz. | 30.75″ | 22″ |
Blue Marlin | Bruce King Camden, DE |
Poorman’s Canyon | 7/8/1986 | 820 lb. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Cobia | John Burbage Ocean View, DE |
Atlantic Ocean | 8/10/2018 | 79 lb. 6.4 oz. | 56.5″ | 28.25″ |
Dolphinfish | William Emmert Rehoboth, DE |
Baltimore Canyone | 7/16/2014 | 56 lb. 14 oz. | 54.25″ | 32.5″ |
False Albacore | Jason Conrad Fleetwood, PA |
Atlantic Ocean | 7/13/2019 | 22 lb. 9.6 oz. | 35″ | 22.5″ |
Flounder | William Kendall Dundalk, MD |
Indian River Inlet | 10/7/1974 | 17 lb. 15 oz. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Golden Tilefish | Dylan Baker Lewes, DE |
Atlantic Ocean | 6/20/2020 | 52 lb. 12.8 oz. | 45.5″ | 34″ |
Gray Triggerfish | Buddy J. Masten Clayton, DE |
Delaware Bay | 9/30/2012 | 6 lb. 5 oz. | 20″ | 20″ |
Kingfish | Billy Hastings Millsboro, DE |
Bethany Beach | 10/13/1973 | 4 lb. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
King Mackerel | Gordon Harris Laurel, MD |
B-Buoy | 9/19/1992 | 48 lb. 9 oz. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Mako Shark | Thomas Barnes Mechanicsburg, PA |
Poorman’s Canyone | 7/22/2000 | 975 lb. | 132″ | 78″ |
Red Drum | James Vandetti Dover, DE |
Not recorded | 6/15/1976 | 75 lb. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Scup (Porgy) | Herman Schmidt Milford, DE |
Not recorded | 5/31/1979 | 5 lb. 5 oz. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Shark | Brent Thomas Manheim, PA |
Atlantic Ocean | 7/11/1981 | 873 lb. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Sheepshead | Dave Walker Boothwyn, PA |
Delaware Bay | 9/30/2014 | 17 lb. 2 oz. | 28″ | 24″ |
Spanish Mackerel | Eric Ludwig Shilington, PA |
Light Ship | 8/6/2000 | 6 lb. 4 oz. | 26.5″ | 11.5″ |
Striped Bass (Rockfish) | Ben Smith Bryn Mawr, PA |
Atlantic Ocean | 12/8/2012 | 52 lb. | 51″ | 30″ |
Swordfish | Kurt Lorenz Burke, VA |
Poormans Canyon | 9/17/2013 | 358 lb. | 90″ | 47.5″ |
Tautog | Glen Cave Dagsboro, DE |
Delaware Bay | 6/18/2005 | 21 lb. 4 oz. | 31″ | 23.5″ |
True Albacore | David Francella West Chester, PA |
Atlantic Ocean | 9/15/1987 | 80 lb. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Tuna | Dan Dillon Herndon, PA |
Atlantic Ocean | 7/2/2005 | 873 lb. | 115″ | 80″ |
Wahoo | Will Stahlgren Phoenixville, PA |
Atlantic Ocean | 9/22/2007 | 106 lb. | 72″ | 32″ |
Weakfish | William E. Thomas Smyrna, DE |
Delaware Bay | 5/20/1989 | 19 lb. 2 oz. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
White Marlin | William Garner Forestville, MD |
Baltimore Canyon | 9/25/1972 | 120 lb. | Not recorded | Not recorded |
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